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Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of the UK's plans for the replacement of Trident for the negotiations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty on nuclear disarmament. [118613]
Dr. Howells: The Government are strongly committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which is the cornerstone of the nuclear non-proliferation regime. The White Paper on the Future of the United Kingdom's Nuclear Deterrent makes clear that renewing our minimum nuclear deterrent capability is fully consistent with all our international obligations, including under the NPT. It is also consistent with our continuing commitment to work towards a safer world in which there is no requirement for nuclear weapons.
Gordon Banks: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had on (a) enforcement and (b) enhancement of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty. [118948]
Dr. Howells: The UK is committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) as the cornerstone of the international non-proliferation regime. The unanimous adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1737 on Iran was an important indication of the international community's determination to enforce the NPT whenever and wherever it is challenged. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary was involved in a number of important discussions in the negotiation of this resolution. The current NPT review cycle runs from 2007 to 2010. The UK will be fully involved in discussions to achieve an outcome at the review conference in 2010 which effectively enhances the NPT.
Mr. Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 January 2007, Official Report, column 1405W, on overseas convictions and arrests, to which agency information on foreign offences was submitted prior to the establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Agency. [117771]
Dr. Howells: Prior to the establishment of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office notified the National Criminal Intelligence Service where we were aware of a British national being arrested or convicted of a serious crime overseas.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of progress by the Palestinian Authority towards the requirements set out by the Middle East Quartet in its statement of 30 January 2006. [112534]
Margaret Beckett: We remain deeply concerned that neither the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority, nor Hamas as a movement, have committed to the Quartets (EU, US, UN and Russia) three principles: to renounce violence, recognise Israel and accept all previous agreements and obligations.
As we have indicated before, we are ready to work with any Palestinian Government based on the Quartet conditions. So far, Hamas has continued to reject these. In the meantime, we will continue to support President Abbas efforts to improve the safety, security and prosperity of the Palestinian people.
Mr. Hague: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next round of the Two Kingdoms Dialogue with Saudi Arabia is to be held. [117659]
Margaret Beckett: We are currently discussing with Saudi Arabia the dates for the next Two Kingdoms Dialogue. We hope that this event will be held around October 2007.
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations she has received on peace talks between the Tamil rebels and the Sri Lankan Government held in Geneva in 2006; and if she will make a statement. [118580]
Dr. Howells: Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials in London and at our high commission in Colombo have regular contact with individuals and groups in the UK and Sri Lanka representing the views of Sri Lankas Tamil population. In December 2006 and in January this year I met with representatives of the Tamil community for discussions on the peace process and the situation in Sri Lanka. In addition, I receive and reply to many written representations made by hon. Members on behalf of their Tamil constituents.
We urge the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to return to the negotiating table and to work to prevent further deterioration of the security situation and the needless loss of more lives. It is essential that both sides commit to the cease-fire agreement and demonstrate this by acting to stop the violence, human rights abuses and bloodshed. The only viable route to a peaceful resolution of the Sri Lanka conflict is at the negotiating table. We fully support the role of the Norwegian Government in facilitating negotiations in furtherance of the peace process.
Mr. Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the Sri Lankan Government on the Tamil population of Sri Lanka. [118581]
Dr. Howells: On 10 January, my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Ian McCartney, who has responsibility for human rights in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, reiterated the Governments concerns about human rights in Sri Lanka to Rohitha Bogollagama, the then Minister of Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion when they met during his visit to London. Minister Bogollagama has recently been appointed as the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister.
My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development, Gareth Thomas, raised humanitarian, political and human rights with Minister Bogollagama when they also met on 10 January.
Mr. Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what advertising campaigns his Department has run since July 2004; and what the (a) date and (b) cost was of each. [115690]
Mr. Hain: The Northern Ireland Office has run the following advertising campaigns since July 2004:
Mr. Paice: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of food served in buildings occupied by his Department was of British origin in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006. [111130]
Mr. Hain: This information is not recorded and therefore it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the level of absenteeism was of Translink staff working on the number 11 service in the past 12 months. [117731]
David Cairns: Translink has advised that this information is not available for a specific service, or indeed for the Comber sub-depot which operates service 11. Translink has, however, provided information on the level of absenteeism in the parent depot at Great Victoria Street, Belfast.
In the period 1 December 2005 to 30 November 2006 the overall percentage of absenteeism was 9.18 per cent.
Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many complaints Translink has received about the number 11 service to Comber. [117732]
David Cairns: Translink has advised that information is not available for the number 11 service alone. However, from 1 January 2006 until 31 December 2006, a total of 40 complaints were received regarding the two services which operate between Belfast and Comber (services 11 and 511).
Mr. Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason the Electoral Administration Act 2006 (Commencement No. 2, Transitional and Savings Provision) Order 2006 did not bring into force the reduction of the candidacy age to 18 in Northern Ireland. [112168]
Mr. Hanson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given today to the hon. Member for Aylesbury (Mr. Lidington) (Table Office reference 110918).
Mr. Lidington: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the provisions of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 on the minimum age of candidates were not brought into effect in Northern Ireland in time for the forthcoming Assembly election; and if he will make a statement. [110918]
Mr. Hanson: As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced on 29 January, the Government will shortly be commencing section 17 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 in Northern Ireland. This will bring the position in Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the United Kingdom by allowing 18-year-olds to stand for election. This will be in force in Northern Ireland in time for 18-year-olds who are eligible to stand as candidates to do so at the forthcoming Northern Ireland Assembly election.
Mr. Gregory Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many additional voters were added to the Electoral Register in each Northern
Ireland constituency between the publication of the current registers and 11 January 2007. [110511]
Mr. Hanson: The following table shows an overall increase from December 2006 to the current register, which will be in use for the forthcoming March election, of 3.8 per cent. This is an addition of 40,849 names to the electoral register.
Constituency | Register 1 December 2006 | Revised register February 2007 | Percentage change December 2006-February 2007 |
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